Snowmobile trail argument leads to shooting in Lowell

LOWELL, Maine — One man was shot in the hand Saturday night after a verbal argument over snowmobile trails and plowing on Shady Shore Road turned into a struggle over a shotgun, Maine State Police Trooper Ben Campbell said Monday.

Keith Crosby, 44, and Lucas Vanadestine, 36, both of Lincoln, went to a camp at 57 Shady Shore Road that is owned by Stephen Currie, 51, of Enfield at about 10:30 p.m. to confront him about his snowplowing, according to the trooper.

“The [camp owner] had a gun in his hands and told them to leave,” Campbell said. He said the weapon in Currie’s hands was a shotgun.

Shortly afterward, “there was a little fight over the gun,” Campbell said. Crosby and Vanadestine “were trying to take it away and it went off,” the trooper said.

Crosby was hit by the flying lead, he said.

“Part of his pinky finger is missing,” Campbell said.

Crosby’s index finger also was injured, he said.

“They took off and were met by a deputy and escorted to the hospital,” Campbell said.

Penobscot County Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Stone located Vanadestine and Crosby after they left the camp and followed them to Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln, the trooper said.

In addition to Campbell, state police Troopers Michael Johnson and Barry Meserve, along with the county deputy and a game warden, responded to the shooting in Lowell, which is located just a few miles southwest of Burlington.

“No one has been charged at this point,” Campbell said. “It’s still under investigation.”

The ongoing argument is over Currie plowing the road to his camp, which reportedly interferes with a snowmobile trail that goes through the area, the trooper said.

“According to Stephen [Currie], it’s been going on for years,” Campbell said of the disagreement.